Google-owned video platform YouTube has announced a number of events that will be conducted over May in celebration of Africa month where Kenyan and other content creators across the continent will benefit from virtual and in-person training sessions.
According to a statement from the company, the events are intended to reaffirm YouTube’s commitment to growing Africa’s creator ecosystem and to spotlight and celebrate the artists and creatives who are driving the growth of Afrobeats and Africa’s music industry.
At the same time, creators in Africa will receive support from YouTube through virtual and in-person training and workshops to help them grow their channels and improve their skills.
These will include:
- A Creator 360 virtual workshop, which will allow African content creators to collaborate and share skills
- In-person Creator Day workshops, which will be led by industry experts and help aspiring creators learn the skills they need to continue thriving on YouTube.
- Workshops under its Future Insiders Program to empower budding producers and songwriters with hands-on training taught by seasoned producers such as Sarz and Musa Keys.
YouTube adds that its YouTube Africa Day Concert will make an appearance in partnership with British actor Idris Elba.
The concert will include an in-person event in Nigeria that will be live-streamed on YouTube, featuring some of the continent’s hottest artists.
The virtual and in-person trainings build on past initiatives such as the #YouTubeBlackVoices Funds and the YouTube Shorts Fund, a $100 million fund designed to reward creators who make creative and unique Shorts for their contributions.
At the start of 2022, the platform picked Angel Lately, Cheymuv, Mandi Sarro, and Justus Nandwa, among other 26 creators from KE, Nigeria, and SA.
They were part of the 135 creator-strong 2022 #YouTubeBlack voices creator class.
The creators receive seed funding alongside dedicated support to help them develop their channels and thrive on the YouTube platform.
“We’re incredibly proud of YouTube for providing a platform that shares Africa’s creativity with the rest of the world. From music, fashion, and beauty to the latest trending movements, YouTube plays an important role in the emergence and expression of Africa’s unique cultural stories to local and global audiences. By commemorating Africa Month through these impactful initiatives, we continue to spotlight, and elevate the work of creators and artists who are at the forefront of the continent’s creative explosion,” says Alex Okosi, Managing Director, Emerging Markets, YouTube EMEA.
Just the other day, the Kenyan Ministry of ICT, Innovation & Youth Affairs, and video on demand firm Netflix signed a two-year Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly deliver efforts to strengthen Kenya’s creative industry and support the development of the next generation of storytellers.
Schedule
YOUTUBE AFRICA MONTHLY ACTIVITY SCHEDULE | ||
ACTIVITY | WHEN | WHERE |
Creator 360 | 10th to 11th May | Online |
Creator Day Kenya | May 31st | Kenya |
Creator Day Mzansi | 19th – 20th May | South Africa |
Africa Day Concert | 25th May | Nigeria |
Music Future Insiders Program South Africa | 16th – 19th May | South Africa |
CreatorDay Naija | 25th May (10 AM to 2 PM) 26th May (4 PM – 9 PM) | Nigeria |
Music Future Insiders Program Nigeria | 25th to 27th May | Nigeria |
An Evening with YouTube (Content and Cocktails) | 26th May 6 PM to 9 PM | Nigeria |